The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-06-22
Little Dandy.


"Iitfle Dandy the boys called him.
He joined our company in Nicksburs
Just before the siege, and none Of us felt
enough interest in him to make any in
qriries. His extreme youth the was
agoui lG) would have excited our symra-
thy under other circumstances, but the
wary worn veterans in the trenches had
no Iise fer the curied darings Of the par
lor, and Little Dandy's appearance was
against him The lad wore the gray uni
form Of private, but il was of the very
finest material finer than anything worn
by the Generals. His buttons had an
unsoldierlv glitter He sported white
handkerchief, carried a pocket mirror,
and every morning he combed and curl
ed his golden locks until they looked like
girls tresses
Hello, Little Dandy" yelled the sol
diers, whenever the young fellow passed
them 10 this rough salutation he al
ways responded with a bow and a smile,
but his soft ways did not win favor.
When we met in town we passed him by
without notice, and in camp we let him
alone Little Dandy was proud after 4
fashion--too proud TO notice the sights
heaped upon him. He went through the
routine duties without complaint, but
nothing could induce him to abandon
his pocket mirror and his fancy toilets.
The siege was well under way ard we
were no better acquainted with little
Dandy than at first. Heshared our meals
ofInoldy corn bread and mule meat with
out a murmur. and it must be admitted
that this raised him in our estimation.
But we still had 20 learn what true
heart beat behind those glittering but
tons. An angle of the enemy'sworks was
dangerously close to our intrenchments
and we had to keep our heads we'll shell
tered. When we raised hat on the
muzzle of a muzket il was invariably rid
died with bullets. One morning VIC found
our men being picked off by an unseen
sharpshooter at the rate Of five or six an
hour. This astonishel us, because We
were all keeping uuder cover and the
men who were killed all occupied well
protected positions.
Where was the sharpshooter This was
the question uppermost in every mind.
We were not long in satisfying ourselves
on this point Just outside Of the angle
Of the Federal works stood giant oak,
whose leafy top afforded an admirable
covert for an active riheman. \ vigilant
scrutiny convinced us that the man who
was doing such deadly work in our ranks
was concealed IN this tree. To reach it
he must haye made his way there during
the night. and he would have to remain
there all day. But we could not stand it
even one day. His aim was so unerring
that every time his rifle cracked Con-
federate bit the dust Wetried rattling
/ discharge of musketry, but amoment lat
er the report of the rifle rang ont, and an
I other OF our comrades fell
il was evident that from our position,
it was almost impossible TO hit the Feder-
al rihenan. T. we succeeded in bringing
him down it would be by some lucky
random shot Possibly man outside
the works would be able 10 draw a bead
on our wary ioeman, but he would be
under The guns Of the enemy and there
world be a thousand chances against
/ him.
"Tll kill hia or die" cried shrill
voice
Good God it's Little Dandy" shout
ed dozen men.
Al the risk ofour lives we peeped oyer
our breastworks. Little Dandy had al
ready made his way tothe open space be-
tween the works and was edging around
on the right of the tree. The Federals
saw what he was up to and fired a broad
side. When the smoke cleared away and
they saw the boy with a flushed face and
streaming hair aiming his gun at the top
Of an old oak there was a tremendous
cheer. 1t rolled along both lines-the
hoarse Federal shout mingling with the
wild Rebel yell"
Bang! man in blue came tumbling
and crashing through the branches Of the
tree and struck thu eerth with dull
thud It was the sharpshooter Anoth-
er cheer rent the air, but this time it was
from the Confederates alone. A sheet Of
fame blazed along the Fcde,Al works,
but when the smoke lifted we saw Little
Dandy coming full tilt in our direction
with a smile ON his face.
Three cheers for Little Dandy :" leap
cd from hundreds of throats as the boy
yaulted over the breastworks, and we
rushed down upon him to hug him, in
our frenzy of admiration and joy But
little Dandy sank down upon a heap Of
loose dirt, and then we saw the crimson
stains upon his breast.
kept ny promise" he painted. And
then. as our Colonel took his hand, the
little chap looked up into his face and
said:
4" Pm afraid I've made poor soldier.
Sometimes I've bothered you know.
Please remember that ! was not very
strong, and-and ! did the best that
could
His head fell over. Poor Little Dandy
was dead-.ifissal Constitution
A Fact Worth Knowing.